Proof that anyone can take up running: I’ve cut 13 minutes off my 5k (3.1 miles) time since May.
If you had asked me back in January -- when I decided my New Year’s resolution was to run a 5k -- if I would be able to go under 30 minutes, I would have laughed at you.
In fact if you had told me in May, after I ran the Freihofer’s Run for Women, that I would be averaging an eight-minute mile in November, I would have laughed.
I ran 38 (minutes) in May (embarrassing, I know) and a 25 this evening. That’s almost a respectable time. I texted my mom and told her. She responded, “Who are you and what did you do with my daughter?”
So, I’m running the Turkey Trot in a little over a week now. It’s very exciting, although I don’t think I’ll be able to go as fast when I’m running with 4,500 of my closest friends as when I’m running by myself.
Eleven months ago, I dreaded running. And yet, here I am, genuinely enjoying running. It really proves that anything is possible, and that anyone can pick up running.
If you’re interested, and want to join me in the 62nd running of the Troy Turkey Trot, you can register HERE.
Multicultural
In other news, I was talking with someone from the city and someone from Long Island the other day, and it has confirmed what I’ve thought for a while. The state of New York consists of a minimum of four, possibly five, areas with distinctly different cultures.
There’s New York City, the New York City suburbs, Long Island and, us, the upstate area. I would argue that there is the western upstate area, and the Capital District, but I might be in the minority.
One of my friends from Michigan said that culturally, I’m more midwestern than New York. I thought it was a funny thing to say. But it’s probably true. Values wise, I am more similar to people in the Midwest than people in Manhattan.
It just strikes me as odd that one state can have so many distinct cultures. I can’t think of any other state in the union quite like ours.
It’s just one more reason I love New York.
